Kingfisher County officials are urging local residents to respond to the 2020 Census.

Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions.

The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.

The results also will determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, highway road and bridge construction, school lunches and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.

The state response average is currently 56.6%, lagging behind the national average of 62.2%.

But Kingfisher County’s response rate is even lower, with just 52.9% of county residents submitting census data.

Response rate for local municipalities include: Kingfisher 58.2%; Hennessey 54.4%; Cashion 47.9%; Okarche 46.2%; Loyal 39% and Dover 34.1%.

Responding to the Census takes just minutes and can be done online, over the phone or by mail.

Visit 2020census.gov for more details.